Another chance for netballers to fine-tune play

Back at the back: YMP goal defence Bronya McMenamin (left) will be back on “D” for her team this weekend and that will make it tougher for their opponents in Round 2 of grading tomorrow. High School Old Girls player-coach Tanya Owen, competing here, will be keen to see her team build on what they produced in Round 1 of grading. File picture

NETBALL

Lytton Senior A and Whangara Old Girls will look to build on their strong starts to the season in Round 2 of netball grading at Victoria Domain tomorrow but they will be tested by their opponents.

Both teams started with two wins in Round 1 and looked good in the process.

Lytton’s match against the new-look Taste One High School Old Girls at 10.50am tomorrow will be a further indicator of the strength of both teams this season.

HSOG started well with a good win over a below-strength YMP and will be keen to build on that result.

Lytton looked organised at both ends of the court in their wins against Claydens Waikohu (35-25) and Horouta Gold (37-34).

Superior fitness was a key for the students in both matches. Two weeks down the track it remains to be seen whether it plays a part tomorrow.

The wins Whangara Old Girls had against Gisborne Girls’ High School (34-19) and HSOG (41-24) painted a clear early-season picture — Whangara are in a good place already.

They play Claydens Waikohu at 9.55am.

Waikohu have a double-header tomorrow and coach Cheryl Te Rito wants to see them perform better when they take on Whangara and later Horouta Gold (11.45am).

“We have four new girls in the team this year, and three of them did not play on Day 1 of grading,

“Our basic aim is to get them all going together as a team. They are coming along and it’s early days, after all.”

Defending champions YMP will want to get their programme on the rails firmly tomorrow after their loss in the opening game.

They play Horouta Gold at 9.55am.

Tomorrow they will have the services of Paku-Jane Skudder (nee Brown-White) and Bronya McMenamin, both of whom excelled in the Tairawhiti Open team at the Aotearoa championships at Easter.

Horouta Gold gave Lytton a real run for the money in the Round 1 game.

They should test YMP and later Waikohu.

“We look forward to meeting all the teams, and using each game as a gauge to how the girls are progressing,” Horouta coach Claire Campbell said.

“They are open to my coaching and our training has been really productive.

“There’s good energy. Everyone’s smiling and happy when we finish, and that’s important.

“It shows they are enjoying what we are doing together.”

Netball centre manager Allisa Hall said the game between Waikohu and Horouta Gold should be one of the better contests to watch tomorrow morning.

“Games between those two teams are always closely fought.

“The match between High School Old Girls and Lytton Senior A will be another good match-up.

“Two weeks ago you could tell which teams had done some good pre-season work.

“It will be interesting to see what another fortnight’s training has done for all our teams.”